Page 21 of Hopeless Magic
“Looks like you’ve filled out too.” His full lips have me in a trance.
I should speak, or at least close my mouth.
Nothing. I have no intelligent thoughts.
“You look very beautiful tonight, Kara.” He leans into me, stealing up some of the terrible space that separates his body from mine.
“Thank you, Mackel.” It comes out as a whisper. An astounded whisper. He was once a boy who kissed me like a man. Now he stands before me as nothing but masculine confidence.
Boots skimming over hard wood floors echo through the house behind me and I suddenly realize we have an audience.
“Who’s your friend?” Ryder’s calm voice carries over the rushed whispers of Daxdyn and Darrio.
I turn to the three men who are staring daggers at Mackel. He gives them a simple, polite smile.
They’re more than I bargained for. When I stand on the shore and demand my reward for this journey, nothing but all the wealth in the world will be enough.
I swivel my gaze back to the tall, dark, and handsome man before me.
“Ready?” I ask, my smile as charming and beautiful as ever.
His large hand clasps mine. Not another word is spoken as he guides me away. To where, I’m not even sure.
“Fucking human.” I hear Darrio’s slur from several feet away and Mackel glances down on me with a look of confusion.
“He’s weird. Don’t worry about him.” I wrap my hand around his bulging bicep and even bat my lashes up at him as a perfect smile kisses my lips.
It’s then that I realize the amount of effort I’m putting into just being around Mackel. I hadn’t even noticed it, but the last few days have been easy. Nothing I’ve done has been premeditated.
A sick feeling twirls within me at the realization of how dangerous it is to trust these strangers. I don’t even know them and yet here I am.
I’ve been entirely myself with the three of them. My stomach sinks low. I’ve beentoocomfortable with them.
Starting tonight, that’ll change.
Chapter Eight
Prince Charming
Tonight was simple. It was almost fun even. Mackel took me to his bar. The lights there were dim and just oozed expensive vibes. Naturally, I stole every single thing my fingers touched.
It was truly a wonderful evening.
The two of us stand on the small front porch of house 6969. A few wooden chairs sit to the left and I wonder if he’ll linger; if he’ll take a seat to talk for a while. I’m tired. Tired of pretending everything he says makes my heart melt. He’s nice. Just as nice as he was when we were sixteen. But nice never made my heart demand someone’s presence.
Hell, at the very least, even Darrio has an alluring appeal. I want to know where every scar on his body came from. I also don’t want him to open his mouth to tell me. If he opens his mouth, only awful words will come out, I just know it.
“What are you thinking about?” Mackel asks as his hard body leans into mine. Every inch of him aligns in a suffocating way against me.
My cheeks flame red as I realize I was somehow thinking about Darrio of all people.
“You, of course.” At the sound of my quiet words, that beautiful smile pulls at his full lips. “Just you,” I whisper as his lips meet mine.
The warmth of his hands seep into me as he cradles my head. Expertly, his tongue drifts over mine. My back is flat against the house, pinned in place by his strong chest.
Slowly, my fingers run down his soft shirt. The lines of his muscles threaten to deter me from my real mission.
With purpose, I moan into his mouth. His breath quickens just as my fingers wrap around the pocket watch. It’s taunted me all night with the gleaming gold chain hanging from his hip.
